These images were painted on large silk panels as a response to David Whyte's poem, Self Portrait.   I plan to create an entire maze of these panels so that people can walk through the poem, discovering various interpretations. As I work on these paintings I am discovering many possible interpretations and  am still in the process of painting more images. There are 20 so far..

I have already shared the poems with groups who then wrote their own poems in response. The results have been wonderful, reinforcing the belief that each of us can create poetry.  Soon I will post some of those poems....

Self Portrait by David Whyte

It doesn't interest me if there is one God

or many gods.

I want to know if you belong

or feel abandoned.

If you can know despair or see it in others

If you are prepared to live in the world

with its harsh need to change you,

If you can look back with firm eyes saying

"This is where I stand."

I want to know if you know how to melt

into that fierce heat of living

falling toward the center of your longing

If you are willing to live day by day

with the consequence of love and the bitter unwanted passion

of your sure defeat.

I have heard in that fierce embrace

even the gods speak of God.